Saturday, March 22, 2014

Our Thoughts

Drive Out All Negative Thoughts

Our thoughts really do have an impact on our world. Negative thoughts
about family members or fellow employees, change our relationships. If
we dislike someone at work and allow ourselves to think
poorly of them, they are likely to fulfill our low expectations. If we
pray for them and ask God to bless them, while asking the Lord to bless
our interaction with them, they become changed for the good, and so do
we.

We've all heard the image of one person who's cup is half
empty, while another person's cup is half full. The former person is
likely to go through life with unfulfilled goals, while the latter will
see their world blossom as a beautiful garden. Even all the weeds in
that garden will seem beautiful, if we keep negative thoughts at bay.

I've counseled depressed individuals over the years to take a brisk
walk every day for at least forty minutes while saying the Jesus Prayer.
Their depression subsides within days because the exercise, coupled
with the prayer, pushes aside negative thoughts and sends depression
into the abyss from which it originated.

Our negative thoughts
keep us from the joy that is ours in Christ and keeps that joy from
uplifting others. If we fight off negative thoughts we allow Christ to
change us, and those around us. Saint Seraphim of Sarov said that if we
acquire inner peace, a thousand around us will be saved. Negative thoughts do
not promote peace!

With love in Christ, Abbot Tryphon

Photo: The sight of the ferry to Vashon Island made my heart leap for joy. I'm home from my journey!

Hebrews 12:1-10

The Race of Faith

12 Therefore
we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let
us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of
God.

The Discipline of God

3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens,And scourges every son whom He receives.”

7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Matthew 20:1-16

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.2 Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,4 and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went.5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’7 They
said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go
into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’8 “So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’9 And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius.10 But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius.11 And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner,12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’13 But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?14 Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’16 So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”

All-Merciful Saviour Monastery is a
non-profit, 501 C3 organization, under IRS regulations. All
donations
are therefore tax deductible. We support ourselves through the sales of
Monastery Blend Coffee, our fine line of teas, and make Monastery Jams,
all sold on line, and in our gift
shop. We grow as many of our fruits and vegetables as we can, tend
bee hives, and raise free range chickens for our eggs. With all we do to
support ourselves, we still depend on the generosity of our friends and
benefactors. You can donate to the monastery through PayPal, or by
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